Meet the SwimTrek HQ Team
Meet the head office team who create the magic in the background.
April Marshall
Life before SwimTrek
Started swimming from a very young age - I was born in the bath! Joined a swimming club, which lead to joining Eastbourne Voluntary Lifeguards at the age of ten, during this I started out as a nipper to then coaching. I trained to become a pool and beach lifeguard as soon as I could, where I started working summer seasons lifeguarding on the beach. This eventually took me to America lifeguarding, as well as working in Croatia as a Nanny and lifeguarding for early morning swims. After this I ventured into the world of Cabin Crew, this took me to some amazing locations. After a couple years flying, I found myself working within the marine industry, working in customer service and operations, all of this experience led me to SwimTrek.
Life at SwimTrek
My role within SwimTrek is Operations Team Coordinator, I work within the ops team making sure all trips run smoothly.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming with Green Sea turtles in two locations, one being Australia’s Whitsundays and the second being the beautiful west coast of Sri Lanka, both unforgettable moments.
Favourite SwimTrek location or event
All the destinations provide such a memorable experience for not just the guests but the guides too. I have to representing SwimTrek and helping out at the Dart 10k event in August 2023, was truly great fun!
Interesting fact about you
I once had a phone call from a celebrity wishing me happy birthday, turns out it was Gethin Jones who was down the beach with the lifeguards presenting for a television show!
Why I love working at SwimTrek
SwimTrek is proof that you can combine a passion of swimming with the love of travel. The company goes above and beyond to create experiences that will leave you wanting more!
Nikki Gatland
Life before SwimTrek
Before SwimTrek I was training Police Officers across Surrey and Sussex Police in Use of Force but i would always manage to fit in some water time. Local to the main training centre in Lewes is a magical outdoor pool called Pells, where I would spend many lunch times and evening getting some fresh lengths in. A long time before life at SwimTrek, 10 years in fact, I was actually a SwimTrek Guide! So I guess it was always meant to be.
Life at SwimTrek
I work in the Product team to help turn dreams into a reality.
Most memorable swim moment
Always taking the opportunity to get in the water, I loved swimming in the freezing cold fjords of Norway while the sun was setting into the mountains. Swimming with my sister in one of our first 'big' open water events - 2km Marlow. It was our first venture into a more structure open water activity and we loved it.
Why I love working at SwimTrek
The company has a fantastic culture and ethos and offers both staff and customers something special. The combination of being around all things open water with like-minded people creates an exciting and diverse working day which I love. Plus it's fun to chat swim holidays all day.
Dawn Stepney
Life before SwimTrek
Swimming has always been a huge part of my life, from learning to swim at a very young age, then swimming competitively all through my teens and early twenties. For a while, swimming took a backburner whilst I travelled, studied, built a career working as a Customer Support Consultant for a Communications Company, Then it was marriage and starting a family. However, one day whilst watching my own children learn to swim, over 10 years ago, I had an epiphany and decided to come back to swimming as a Swimming Instructor and Coach. This has been a successful career where I eventually became the Swimming Programme Manager for a local swim school. However, during Covid, my love for Open Water Swimming grew and here I am at SwimTrek, as I take another turn in my varied career and follow my passion for the love of Open Water Swimming and Travelling.
Most memorable swim moment
I have three, sorry, as they are all memorable, Snorkelling, Diving and Chasing Dolphins in Egypt, Swimming with Turtles in Turkey and Swimming with Seals in Australia.
Favourite SwimTrek location or event
It has to be my first, as you never forget your first SwimTrek Trip – Crete Discovery. But I’m sure the next one will be just as memorable.
Interesting fact about you
I played water polo for Scotland.. (It might help to know that I am Scottish!) I also love a dress with pockets, it’s the future.
Why I love working at SwimTrek
I feel extremely lucky to work for a company that supports my passion for swimming and travelling and I get to share it with others. It’s great to work with like-minded people, who all have a passion for the product, swimming, and adventure. The company also supports a great ethos of wellbeing, openness, trust, and positivity, making it a great workplace, whilst dreaming about the next exotic swim holiday.
Telle Maukonen
Life before SwimTrek
I was a SwimTrek guest before I joined the Guiding Team. My first SwimTrek trip was to the Greek Cyclades as a guest. Skip to 2013 (via two more SwimTrek Long-Distance Training camps, a Windermere swim, a couple of Channel Relays, and a solo English Channel swim) when I decided to devote my life to swimming and qualified as a swimming teacher and SwimTrek Guide.
Life at SwimTrek
Although I still get to do a bit of guiding, and a bit of coaching at Tooting Bec Lido in London, in my HQ role as Guiding Support Manager, it is my great pleasure to help support and train new and continuing guides before and during their guiding adventures.
Most memorable swim moment
I'm not sure I'll ever have another swim that beats the feeling of relief I got from crawling onto the rocks at Cap Griz Nez, but equally the first island to island crossing in the Greek Cyclades was the one that sparked the whole crazy obsession in the first place, and who can forget that blue water!
Favourite SwimTrek location or event
This is an impossible question. I love swimming the Long Distance Training camps because you don't have to get out of the water for a whole six hours and the water is always nice and 'cool', but I think one of the main reasons I enjoy that so much is because I can draw from the 'bank of great swims' in my mind from all over the world, and those memories help to get me through the tough stuff.
Interesting fact about you
I'm the first Finnish woman to swim the English Channel.
Why I love working at SwimTrek
On my first ever SwimTrek holiday I remember watching the guides at work thinking, "when I grow up, I want to be just like them..." I don't know if I've grown up, but I get to not only be one of them, but to help make more of them! It's people-watching at its absolute best: while watching people swim, you can literally see the transformation happen before your eyes as they relax through the week and often evolve into the very best version of themselves. It's fascinating, entertaining and immensely inspiring.
Alex McKinnon
Life before SwimTrek
I’ve worked over the world doing several different things, I’ve played rugby in Australia. Did my dive master training in Thailand, been a personal trainer in Dubai, worked on Yachts in Turkey and the Med and to top it off. I also managed to squeeze a couple of ski seasons in Meribel. Soon after heading back to home shores and Brighton where I got a 'proper job' in Sports Nutrition - but travel, sport and water in all its forms is where my passion lies, I wouldn’t have imagined I could combine them all!
Life at SwimTrek
As part of the product team, I help maintain the high standards that we set for our holidays. keeping our guests and suppliers happy with each individual trip we run.
Most memorable swim moment
Competitively I would have to say captaining our school team to a 2nd place at the 4 x 50 freestyle relay at the national schools when I was a wee lad.
Recreationally, after a very memorable dive in Thailand seeing bull sharks, soon after we had taken our gear off someone had sighted a whale shark, so I threw on my mask and fins and swam as fast as I could and managed to see it from the surface!
Favourite SwimTrek location or event
Hawaii has always been a bucket list location for me. You can dive, swim and surf which ticks off three of my favourite things, what more could you want (apart from snow). I’d also love to be able to attend the Triathlon world champs at Kona and the WSL.
Interesting fact about you
One of the few people who can (legally) give you a personal training session, on a boat, Skipper the boat, take you diving and then drive the group up a mountain and then snowboard with them back down.
Why I love working at SwimTrek
I didn’t think my life's experience could ever be combined, it being so varied, but it has all combined into one job, that and the team are the friendliest I’ve ever come across.
Beth Durnford
Life before SwimTrek
Since the age of 14 I have been teaching babies and young children to be confident in the water and the fundamentals of swimming. I have worked a summer and winter season across Europe and travelled around New Zealand and Fiji.
Life at SwimTrek
As a member of the customer relations team, I am here to ensure you get the most out of your SwimTrek adventure.
Most memorable swim moment
My most memorable swim moment was diving in Fiji in the most beautiful ocean, seeing manta rays in their natural habitat.
Favourite SwimTrek location
I loved the Emerald Coast trip in Sardinia and can’t wait to experience more SwimTrek adventures.
Interesting fact
Another passion of mine is dancing which I have done since the age of 3. I had some great opportunities, including pantomimes, professional ballets, youth west end performance and performing on stage and in the parade at the ‘most magical place on earth’.
Why I love working at SwimTrek
Working at SwimTrek allows me to combine my passion for swimming and travelling.
Naomi Swailes
Life before SwimTrek
For the last 5 years I worked in Operations within the Leisure industry, running Leisure Centres. I also taught group exercise classes on the side! Before that I worked as a personal trainer! Most of my time however was spent travelling. I spent three summers living and working in Greece, a year travlling in South America and two years exploring Southeast Asia and India!
Life at SwimTrek
I am part of the Operations team, looking after our amazing guides, making sure they get to and from location and that they have everything they need to run their trips!
Most memorable swim moment
Night swimming in the Ionian with the luminescent shrimp! It was like magic!!
Favourite SwimTrek location or event
Our guides training week in Mallorca! Amazing people and a great chance to get to know my new team from HQ as well as meet the guides I'd be working with
Interesting fact about you
I'm currently learning to play the Drums! Don't know if it's an interesting fact but it's really fun to do - I recommend it!
Why I love working at SwimTrek
The people here are great and being part of creating these wonderful experiences is a real joy.
Rosie Canby
Life before SwimTrek
I have always loved swimming since learning at my local swimming club as soon as I was old enough. I then got into triathlon and the open water, and worked as a beach lifeguard in Eastbourne for 7 years. Between seasons I went to university in Nottingham where I started lake swimming (being nowhere near the sea), and have done various jobs including a ski season in Canada!
Life at SwimTrek
I started working as a guide in 2021 and I now work at the other end of the chain in the product team, maintaining the quality of our trips.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming in a glacial lake in the mountains in Canada
Favourite SwimTrek location or event
I am always excited about the next one!
Interesting fact about you
I once lifeguarded mermaids on a film set
Why I love working at SwimTrek
Everyone at SwimTrek puts so much care into creating amazing experiences, it is a joy to be part of. And the lunchtime sea swims are a bonus!
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